Photographing Little Legue/PAL Soccer ect and selling them?

Im getting ready to finalize my website and start promoting it. I was thinking of going to the local little league games, soccer, football , softball ect and shooting the players/coaches/fans and handing them my card. Then doing some minor post proc and uploading them to the site where they can buy prints.

Is this a pretty legit way of making some extra money? I've read through the model release thread and I think that I'm ok without releases right? Since its not being used for commercial advertising?

I would obviousley first introduce myself to the coach and let him know who I am and what my intentions are. Give him my buisness card and shave my creepy moustache so I don't scare the kids

I did a search and didn't find much in the way of a clear answer to this. Thanks in advance.

Neill

You don't need a model release, no. You do need permission from the league/teams to shoot though and would not show up blind just "hey, I'm here to shoot". Never know if they have a deal already with another photographer and you don't want to step on toes first time out or they may not allow you anyways for a bunch of reasons. Extra money, I don't see one lens in your list for sports so not sure you're going to get much beyond what parents are getting already and unless you're producing a LOT better than they are getting sales may suck, even when you are they are not the greatest. Also, there are a lot of threads on this already so may want to re-try the search.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #10132127
You don't need a model release, no. You do need permission from the league/teams to shoot though and would not show up blind just "hey, I'm here to shoot". Never know if they have a deal already with another photographer and you don't want to step on toes first time out or they may not allow you anyways for a bunch of reasons. Extra money, I don't see one lens in your list for sports so not sure you're going to get much beyond what parents are getting already and unless you're producing a LOT better than they are getting sales may suck, even when you are they are not the greatest. Also, there are a lot of threads on this already so may want to re-try the search.

I'm looking at picking up a 70-200 2.8 IS this week for 1300$. So I'm trying to make sure I can make this lens work for me.

Dont be suprised if someone on almost every team has a parent with similar equipment. Yes, there is money to be made...but I dont think it is by showing up cold to outdoor youth sporting events.

I agree with Matt. I started with youth soccer just shooting my daughter with my xt and 70-200 and slowly developed contacts into different leagues. Unfortunately in today's society men just showing up to youth events and taking pictures is pretty frowned on.

I would start by calling, emailing the league president or if you have some friends or relatives with kids in leagues, start there by shooting their games.

Making money and making money are two different things. Sure you will see money coming in, but are you actually making money? My website and insurance alone is costing me over $100 a month. I'm assuming you will carry an insurance policy with a liability rider.

You will find out very quickly that 200mm is pretty short. Yesterday I shoot @ 300, 420, and 600mm to get the shots I wanted at a little league game. Good luck and let us know how it went.

I completely understand not stepping on anyones toes.

I've checked out some games down here, and have yet to see anyone with a camera, let alone a "White lens" or better.

Interesting thread!

Keep us posted on how you make out with this.

Drakeskakes wrote in post #10135305
I completely understand not stepping on anyones toes.

I've checked out some games down here, and have yet to see anyone with a camera, let alone a "White lens" or better.

That doesn't mean anything - I'm official for the local league and can't make every single game, in fact make very few and it's in spurts, but that doesn't mean someone else can come in and start shooting. You need permission first and foremost, so take Dan's advice and contact someone first.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #10135415
That doesn't mean anything - I'm official for the local league and can't make every single game, in fact make very few and it's in spurts, but that doesn't mean someone else can come in and start shooting. You need permission first and foremost, so take Dan's advice and contact someone first.

Will do.

Do you get paid by the league or do you just sell prints?

need not be a white lens...just keep in mind if your images dont look better than GWC your SOL.

Unique angles, field acess, tight shots, perfect timing, not missing shots etc etc are required to make $$ in youth sports. Even then its a tough gig that takes networking, marketing and people skills. I can promise you showing up to a league at random and taking pics wont get the results you hope....and contacting leagues takes a lot of work to even get a response most of the time. Not trying to be a jerk just letting you know the real world.

On a personal note your website is ver anit-youth sports. I would set up a separate site or adjust it for that market. Skimpy clothed girls and the dark background will scare away the majority of your clients IMHO...which for me is 85% moms...just FYI

Shoot events which amateurs cannot in sports which cost thousands to play. Hockey, gymnastics, horse shows. Get a contract with the venue owner and pay for exclusive access. Btw HD video sells better than stills.

Exactly... low light events still bring in the $$. Dont have any experience with video at this point but when I ge tthe next generation camera I plan to test the market some.

eigga wrote in post #10135549
need not be a white lens...just keep in mind if your images dont look better than GWC your SOL.

Just using white lens as a joke, that why its in quotes

Drakeskakes wrote in post #10135425
Will do.

Do you get paid by the league or do you just sell prints?

I do T&I and that's where the money is, I'd shoot more of the actual games if there was better sales (do it on spec and sell prints). However, there's just not many sales in the league so only do it in spurts when I have an off night. The league is small and has no money to spend out, they basically run right at cost of running the league and everything is volunteer.

S.Horton wrote in post #10135597
Shoot events which amateurs cannot in sports which cost thousands to play. Hockey, gymnastics, horse shows. Get a contract with the venue owner and pay for exclusive access. Btw HD video sells better than stills.

Ain't that the truth....$65 to play - good luck getting sales...$3,000 to play, another $200 on photos isn't a big deal!

A parent was asking me to shoot her kids high school team after I saw him in the Caribbean, a trip each kid paid thousands to play (4-5K with travel), and told her I'm having financial difficulty and can't do a trip to Texas on spec. She said they were having difficulty to...and then bought over $750 worth of prints. We had different definitions of difficulty! At the time, years ago, I could barely afford gas and she's dropping that on photos.

I've all but stopped shooting locally, I do it as a favor pretty much for some parents that are loyal and then shoot others while there just in case -but for the most part it's not worth it anymore. T&I still gets more $$.